Nineteenth Week of Pregnancy: What Happens to the Mother and How the Fetus Grows
Introduction
You're almost halfway through your journey of waiting: here you are, facing the nineteenth week of pregnancy.
In this article, I will accompany you in the discovery of what to expect in terms of symptoms, the growth of your little one and tips to preserve your physical and internal well-being.
I'll tell you right away that your little one is growing rapidly in your belly and has already reached the size of a mango !
For an even more complete and conscious journey towards birth, I recommend you join the Academy to access all the best video courses to support your health during pregnancy (prenatal course, pelvic floor, breastfeeding, pilates, etc.) and the development of your baby (motor development, language, cognitive, self-weaning, pediatric disobstruction, etc.)
Also, on my Instagram profile @drsilva.com_official and on my Youtube channel you will find lots of content designed for you and your little one.
How many months are you at 19 weeks?
The nineteenth week of pregnancy is part of the fifth month of gestation , which goes from 17+5 to 21+6.
Symptoms of the nineteenth week of pregnancy
What are the most frequent symptoms during the nineteenth week of pregnancy ? Here are the main ones:
Increased appetite
Possible presence of stretch marks
Lower abdominal pain caused by stretching of the round ligaments
Backache
During this time, you are most likely also feeling more heaviness in your legs.
All normal! This is an effect of reduced venous return, which in turn is caused by the increased effort on the heart and blood vessels.
Sleeping with a good pregnancy pillow can help you a lot to optimize the drainage of fluids in the lower limbs and prevent back pain.
When your blood pressure values are normal, there is no reason to be alarmed.
Another physiological symptom is the need to urinate more frequently , a result of the uterus pressing on the bladder.
An important parenthesis must be dedicated to the skin .
Around the nineteenth week of pregnancy, you may start to feel particularly sensitive and dry.
Don't worry: this is one of the many effects of hormonal changes.
Dry skin can, in turn, cause itching, especially on the belly and breasts, two areas that undergo macro changes during pregnancy.
How to handle the situation?
Starting as soon as possible to apply a hydrating, soothing and elasticizing oil (almond oil is more than good).
Don't be scared by possible episodes of dyspnea .
This is one of the consequences of the increasing pressure of the uterus on the diaphragm and lungs.
When your blood pressure values are normal, there is no reason to be alarmed.
Can you feel the baby in the nineteenth week of pregnancy?
At nineteen weeks of pregnancy you can already begin to feel fetal movements .
There are several factors at play that influence perception.
The main ones? The number of pregnancies, the thickness of the abdominal wall and the level of adipose tissue representation in that area of the body.
19 weeks pregnant I don't feel him move: what to do?
If you have not yet begun to feel your little one's movements, contact your trusted midwife to clarify any doubts and to be guided by the hand regarding the work on body perception.
Remember in any case that, on average, the first movements, especially if you have never experienced the pregnancy journey, are perceived between the eighteenth and twenty-first week of gestation.
Fetus 19 weeks: how does it grow?
With an average length of 15 cm and a weight that, always speaking in terms of general values, is around 200 grams - to make a fruit and vegetable comparison, it is like a small mango - your baby has senses so developed that he reacts to noises.
During the nineteenth week of pregnancy, your little heart pumps, on average, 25 - 30 liters of blood per day, a volume that will soon experience significant growth.
During this period of pregnancy, one can appreciate a rapid development of the areas of the brain that are fundamental for the perception of stimuli linked to the 5 senses.
The puppy recognizes your voice which, after birth, will have a wonderful calming effect on him (the same can be said for your smell).